Benton man rallies for second consecutive win
By BRETT CARLSON

BEST CATCH BRETT CARLSON PHOTO Co-angler Stetson Blaylock won his second consecutive FLW Series event recently.

DEL RIO, Texas - Competitive angling is such an intricate sport that it is virtually impossible to win back-toback tournaments.

Conditions change, fish roam, mechanical problems happen, etc. It's even harder for co-anglers, who don't have a say in where or how they get to fish. But above all those variables is talent, and 20-year-old Stetson Blaylock has plenty of it.

Blaylock's latest triumph took place at the Wal-Mart FLW Series East-West Fish-Off on Lake Amistad.

After practicing with Kellogg's pro Dave Lefebre all week, the Benton, Ark., native set out to do what he does best: catch bass.

He opened the tournament with an average 12-pound stringer.

On day two, the Berkley-sponsored co-angler improved considerably, catching a five-bass limit that weighed 17 pounds, 2 ounces. And when it mattered most, Blaylock was again at his best - catching another five-bass limit that weighed 19 pounds, 15 ounces that pushed his total weight to 49 pounds, 1 ounce.

It didn't hurt that he was paired with pro winner Clayton Meyer on the pivotal third day. Meyer was on a pod of prespawn fish, but Blaylock still had to catch them.

To do so, he used a mixture of baits including a football-head jig with a Berkley Chunky trailer, a drop-shot and a Texas-rigged stickbait. Not surprisingly, Blaylock said the preferred color for nearly all of his baits was green-pumpkin. On day two, the coangler winner also caught a handful of keepers on a jerkbait.

"After you win your first one, you can relax because you're not worried about getting the monkey off your back," said Blaylock, who won the final 2007 FLW Series BP Eastern Division event on Pickwick Lake. "But every day was slow for me. I only had one fish at noon the first day. The second day I caught everything I weighed within the first half-hour, but I couldn't upgrade after that. Today I just caught one here and one there."

The humble young fisherman said the key to his success was his draws.

"I got three partners that fished deep and allowed me to fish slow."

In December, Blaylock made a deal with National Guard co-angler Justin Lucas, whom he roomed with at Amistad.

If either of the two won the tournament, they would split the prize money. Although Lucas was in second heading into the final day, it was Blaylock who had to cough up half his $5,000.

"I wasn't really planning on winning; I was just hoping to be in the top 30. Then I knew when I went out with Clayton this morning that I had to make the most of my opportunity."

At this pace, it wouldn't be surprising to see Blaylock make some serious noise come August at the Forrest Wood Cup.

So when does Blaylock make the ascension to the pro ranks?

"Maybe two years; it's in the works."

Stetson Blaylock, 20, attended Paron School from kindergarten through fifth grade, then home schooled until able to get GED at age 16

Son of Jessie and Julie Blaylock of Benton

He's the grandson of Sam and Pat Wright of Benton, the late Pansy and Elmer Blaylock of Paron and Gladys and the late Gordon Wright of Benton.

Started fishing tournaments at age 9 and won money in first tourney.

Stetson has been traveling and fishing full time since age 16.

He fished many tournaments locally during ages 9-16, often beating grown men.